Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
STATE, n., v. Sc. usages: I. n. 1. As in Eng., condition, disposition of circumstances. Phr. out o' a' state, out of one's or its natural condition or mood, out of patience, in a disturbed or morbid state (Sh. 1971).Sh. 1898–1900 Shetland News (18 June, 17 Feb.):
William 'ill be oot o' a' state, an doo keeps him waitin'. . . . His haand an' airm wis swall'd oot o' a' state.
2. In pl. = Estates (of Parliament) (see Estate), the three classes of franchised citizens, who by themselves or their representatives together formed the Parliament of Scotland before 1707. Hist., gen. referring to the 17th c. or earlier. Cf. Fr. Etats généraux, Du. Staten-generaal.Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail xiii.:
Her father had sat in the last assembly of the States of Scotland.Sc. 1828 P. F. Tytler Hist. Scot. I. 68:
The States of Scotland undertook, before receiving their queen, to find security to the King of England.
3. Possession (of property), esp. in Sc. Law phrs. to give or receive state and sasine, to get or give over heritable property by a formal act, formerly common as a formula in conveyancing, obs. since 1858.Sc. 1709 Compend of Securities 144:
There give and deliver to the said H. heretable State and Seasin, corporal real and actual Possession of all and haill the saids Lands.Sc. 1759 Morison Decisions 6931:
A sasine, bearing delivery of liferent state and sasine.Sc. 1773 Erskine Institute ii. iii. § 35:
He hath received state and seisin of the lands in due form.Sc. 1803 C. D. Bentinck Dornoch (1926) 303:
George Jaffery Baillie foresaid by Virtue of the office of Bailiary thereby committed to him gave and delivered heretable State and Sasine real, actual and Corporal possession to the said Capt. William Falconer of all and whole the foresaid House and Garden.
4. A statement: (1) specif. of facts or figures, in the pleas in a law-suit, in accounts of monies or financial transactions, etc. Phrs. state for settlement, the accounts presented by an agent to his client in connection with the sale of property; state of process, a recapitulation of the facts of a case in litigation presented by an advocate to the Court before the making up of the Record. Obs. in Eng. since c.1800.Sc. 1732 South Leith Records (Robertson 1925) II. 52:
A distinct state of all the Funds in Caltoun belonging to the poor.Sc. 1734 Session Papers, Maxwell v. Lady Kenmure (7 Feb.) 1:
Memorial and State of the Proof, in the Process of Ejection Spulzie and Intrusion.Sc. 1757 Session Papers, Fowler v. Smith (20 June) 1:
State of the Process of Suspension, Alexander Fowler in Bellie, Charger, against Alexander Smith in Hoggie, Suspender.Sc. 1767 A. & H. Tayler Lord Fife (1925) 46:
I enclose you a little state of expenses since I left home.Sc. 1818 Scott Rob Roy xxiv.:
He sate down to examine Mr Owen's states.Sc. 1836 Report Munic. Corp. (Local) 12:
States of the common good and revenue are made out annually.Sc. 1883 J. H. Begg Law Agents 428:
Preparing or checking State for Settlement, attending Settlement, and receiving or paying Money in cases of Dispositions, etc.Sc. 1947 Scotsman (28 June):
To lodge a State of Teinds betwixt and the ninth day of January next.Sc. 1970 Parliament House Bk. A 4:
Deeds and Probative Writs, Figured States and Accounts.
(2) The formulation or wording of a motion as it is to be put to a vote, esp. in phr. state of a vote.Sc. 1701 D. Hume Diary (B.C.) 44:
After a long debate about these two states moved it might be put to the vote.Sc. 1729 R. Wodrow Corresp. (1845) III. 440:
Joining issues with him as to the state of the vote.Sc. 1758 Smollet Hist. Eng. IX. 315:
The ministry proposed the state of a vote.Sc. 1847 Proc. Gen. Ass. Free Church Scot. (26 May):
It was agreed that the vote be taken, and that the state of it be first or second motion.
II. v. In ppl.adj. stated: (1) as in †Eng.: fixed, certain, definite; (2) short for estated, possessing an estate of land, landed.(1) Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 200:
There were nae stated thing o'd.(2) Ayr. 1826 Galt Last of the Lairds i.:
Surely the 'stated gentry hae come to a low pass indeed.
